Awards motivate budding writers: C Radhakrishnan

Thrissur: Literary awards can provide recognition and motivation to  budding writers, according to novelist C. Radhakrishnan. He was speaking at a seminar on 'Writers and recognition' organised  as a part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Samastha  Kerala Sahithya Parishad  at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi hall  here on Saturday. "In 1962, I got an award of Kerala Sahithya Akademi with a cash price of Rs 500. For several years I did not get any other major award. But the Akademi award motivated me to write for the remaining years. I was launched into the outer space of literary world through that award," Mr Radhakrishnan said.

As the awards are decided by eminent men of letters, they carry great value, he said.  The award would lose its value if the jury lacks the freedom to select the winners by assessing the merit of the works, he added.  "It is destiny that makes a writer and more than the cash prize, what matters is the recognition that comes with the awards," said Mr Radhakrishnan who is also the parishad president.  Writer U.K. Kumaran presided over the seminar.